Page 55 of The Lovers
Elise nearly threw herself into his arms, but she had to preserve a sense of decorum. To the rest of the household, James was just another servant, a man who had no business telling the lady of the house what to do. Peg gaped at James for a moment, but she quickly got her bearings and whirled around to face Elise, her hands clasped in front of her.
“Oh, please, can I come with ye?” Peg pleaded. “I ain’t sick. Not yet. And ye’ll need a lady’s maid to look after ye. Oh, please, me lady.”
Elise would have preferred to take Lucy, but to break Lucy’s quarantine was too risky. She showed no symptoms yet, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t on the verge of falling ill. “All right, Peg. Get your things and pack for Lady Barbara.”
“James, how did you know?” Elise asked as she threw together a few items of clothing, a pair of sturdy shoes, stockings, and several small pieces of jewelry. She didn’t have any money, but the jewelry could always be traded for goods, should the need arise. Elise took her mother’s brooch from her jewelry box and pinned it to her bodice. She would never part with it, not even if she were starving. It was the only thing she had left—the only thing that meant anything.
“I didn’t know. I heard of the terrible outbreak in London and waited for Lord Asher to bring you to Suffolk. I thought it was only a matter of time before he realized that he had to get you out of the city, but you never came, and I began to fear for your life. I saw them carrying out a body as I came up the street. Hurry, Elise. We need to go now,” he added urgently. “They are coming.”
“I know,” Elise cried. She grabbed her cloak and thrust the valise into James’s hands. “I must say goodbye to Lucy.”
Elise ran up the stairs to the top floor and called out to Lucy, who opened the door just a crack.
“Lucy, I’m leaving with Master James. I thank you for what you’ve done for Janet, and I hope that you will be here when I return. I will pray for you every day.”
“Thank ye, mistress,” Lucy said, her voice trembling with misery. “It’ll be a miracle if I’m still here, but I appreciate yer prayers on me behalf. Go with God!”
There was so much Elise wanted to say to the girl, but there were others within earshot, so she couldn’t do more than nod and retrace her steps. Lucy had been her only friend during these lonely months, and she was leaving her to die while she ran toward freedom. Elise felt a stab of guilt, but there was nothing she could do. Even if she tried to take Lucy with her, James would not allow it. He balked at the notion of taking Peg, but Elise convinced himthat she’d need a maid. Elise prayed that she hadn’t made the wrong decision in bringing Peg. She could already be infected, but then again, so could she. They could all already be one foot in the grave, including James, who’d just traveled through London on horseback.
Elise snuck a peek at James. He looked tired, having just ridden through the night, but there was a vitality in him that gave her a small surge of hope. He was vibrating with determination and purpose, and she suddenly believed that not all was lost. He’d get her to safety, her and their child. The thought lit a warm glow in her belly, and the babe suddenly kicked, making her gasp with surprise as her hand flew to her stomach. James spun on his heel at the sound but was reassured by the smile on her face.
“So, it’s quickened, then?” he asked, not expecting an answer. He held out a tentative hand toward her belly but instantly drew it back, aware of Peg’s curious stare.
“Come now, my lady,” James said instead. “There’s no time to waste.”
“Go with James?” Barbara asked as she took James by the hand and smiled up into his face. She didn’t seem to fully understand what was happening but didn’t appear to be put off by leaving with James. She seemed to trust him wholeheartedly.
“Yes, my lady. You are to come with us. You will be all right,” he assured her with a patient smile.
“All right,” Barbara repeated, still smiling.
THIRTY-EIGHT
The day was oppressively hot but overcast. Thick clouds blanketed the sky, threatening rain, and the air stood still, as if holding its breath. Elise was surprised to see a carriage waiting outside when she finally emerged with Peg. Edward kept a fine carriage but rarely used it, preferring the sedan chair when he went to the palace. Still, he would be furious to find his carriage and horses gone. He did not ride since his accident, and the sedan chair could only be used for local outings. If and when he finally decided to leave, he’d have no means of transportation. Elise was about to mention this to James but changed her mind. He already knew, and he didn’t care. James was in the process of tying his own horse behind the carriage, so as not to leave it behind. Two grooms watched from the stable, their expressions wistful.
The servants were sullen and silent as they gathered to watch their mistress leave, resentful of her timely escape. They understood only too well what awaited them within the next few weeks. Few would survive, if any. Elise was tormented with guilt, but there was nothing she could do for them. She noticed one of the servants pinch Peg as she walked by. Peg winced and paled visibly but didn’t complain. She understood their anger and would have been just as envious if she weren’t leaving with the mistress.
Cook pushed her way through the crowd of servants and walked down the steps. She approached Elise slowly, her mouth a grim slash across her face. She didn’t smile, nor did she wish Elise well. She simply placed a bundle of food into her hands and walked away, her anger palpable. Elise accepted the offering with a nod of thanks. She made no apologies; there was no point.
James was impatient to leave, so Peg, Barbara, and Elise climbed into the carriage without further ado and shut the door. They felt the vehicle rock gently from side to side when James jumped onto the bench. He’d put on his kerchief again to block out the noxious fumes of the city and pulled his hat down to shield his face. Peg leaned back against the seat as the carriage began to move, breathing a sigh of relief. She had the look of a woman who’d just been spared the gallows while Barbara gazed about with interest. She never left the house, so to her this was probably an adventure.
Elise took one last look at the imposing facade of Asher Hall as the carriage turned into the street. Edward would be furious when he returned from Whitehall and found her gone, but she didn’t much care. She had a chance at life, and she wouldn’t forfeit it because of the deluded ideas of her misguided husband. If Edward wished to stay in London because His Majesty was still in residence, that was his prerogative, but he had no business sentencing Elise and her baby to death. Elise allowed herself a small smile. Had someone told her that she would become so defiant after only a few months of marriage, she wouldn’t have believed them, but life with Edward Asher had changed her in ways she never expected—whether it was for the better remained to be seen.
Elise settled back against the padded seat and placed her hands on either side in an effort to retain her balance as the carriage jolted over the rutted street. She debated whether she should pull down the leather blinds. Covering the windows would offer anonymity, but it would also plunge the interior into tomblike darkness, not a prospect she relished.A few more minutes, Elise thought as she leaned forward to see how far they’d traveled. She saw several men striding toward the house with a determined gait. They carried a bucket of red paint and a brush, ready to mark Asher Hall as a plague house. One of the men noticed the carriageand raised his hand, demanding that James stop, but James whipped the horses, and the carriage lurched forward, tossing Elise headlong into Peg and Barbara, who squealed with alarm. Elise grabbed on to Peg and the frightened girl, and they held on for dear life as James raced down the street, putting distance between the carriage and the angry men. Two men started after them, but the vehicle moved quickly and soon left them behind, their curses and threats still echoing in Elise’s ears as she tried to calm her racing heart.
James avoided busy streets, which would force him to slow down, and sped down a narrow road for a few minutes before turning onto what Elise thought might be Holborn. She didn’t know London that well, having grown up in Southwark, but Peg looked distinctly nervous as she pressed her nose to the uncovered window.
“What is it, Peg?” Elise asked the frightened maid.
“I think Master James is heading toward Newgate,” Peg muttered, her expression worried.
“What of it?”
“He seems to be going toward the city rather than away from it.”
“I suspect he knows what he’s doing,” Elise answered sternly. It gave her immense comfort to know that she trusted James. He had a plan, of that she was sure. Elise leaned back and tried to force herself to relax. They were away from Asher Hall, so at least they were safe for the moment. The carriage slowed down considerably as they approached Newgate. James had timed their escape well. The gates were the most congested in the mornings and before closing time when people were streaming in and out of the city. There was traffic at this hour, but at least it was moving. They were surrounded by carriages, sedan chairs, men onhorseback, and those on foot. People’s faces were grim and wary as they shuffled toward the gate. Some held handkerchiefs and bunches of nosegays to their noses, but most were too accustomed to the smells of the city to even notice and didn’t think a sprig of flowers would protect them from the pestilence should it come for them.
Elise pulled down the shades, uncomfortably aware of the hostile stares she received from passersby. The interior of the carriage was airless and hot, but Elise was grateful not to be outside mingling with people who, if not ill, were filthy and disgruntled. The carriage offered a modicum of protection and sealed them in a tiny world of their own, offering a false sense of security. They finally passed through the gate and into the walled city of London, where Elise felt safe enough to open the blinds again and look out. The people who entered through the gate dispersed in various directions, and although the streets were congested with traffic, the city was quieter than ever.
